World Music Views caught with Paul Issa, director of the Issa Trust Foundation and host of the upcoming charity concert at Couples Resorts, to talk about the organization’s two-decade journey and the highly anticipated event scheduled for May 17 at Couples Sans Souci.
Celebrating its 20th anniversary this year, the Issa Trust Foundation has focused its mission on pediatric healthcare and education. In 2017, the Foundation expanded its efforts by launching a series of charity concerts, held every other year. “This is our 20th anniversary, and our focus has been children, pediatric healthcare, and education,” Issa shared. “We started doing these concerts to respond to our mission, and it’s become a tradition.”
Reflecting on the last event in 2023 headlined by Michael Bolton, Issa emphasized that this year’s production will once again prioritize a seamless and VIP-level experience. “We’re putting in place all the measures for it a seamless experience — parking, shuttles, getting to the location and being at the location. It’s all inclusive, gourmet food, premium liquor, and a everybody gets a chair,” he explained. “It’s a true VIP experience.”
The concert lineup features Jamaican international superstar Shaggy alongside rising songstress Lila Iké, representing two different but complementary spectrums of Jamaican music. “Shaggy we’ve been trying to get for years, and it finally worked out,” Issa said. “Lila is a wonderful singer-songwriter with a beautiful voice. She’ll bring a mellow, soulful vibe.”
Adding to the event’s mission to inspire young people, the show will open with a performance from Voicebox, a group of young singers trained under Tessane Chin’s mentorship.
Tickets for the concert are priced at US$300, with all proceeds going toward the completion of the Mary Issa Pediatric and Adolescent Health Centre. Issa acknowledged the ticket price but emphasized the cause: “100% of the proceeds go toward building the center. It’s an extremely worthy cause, and guests will be part of a very special evening with silent auctions, great food, and world-class entertainment.”
Tickets are available online at issatrustfoundation.com, and hard-copy tickets can be purchased at Fontana Pharmacy, Jacana, Couples Tower Isle, and Couples Sans Souci. Group discounts are also available: buying six or more tickets offers a 10% discount, and bulk purchases come with additional perks.
Issa is optimistic about attendance, noting strong interest from both local supporters and visitors traveling specifically for the event. “We’re seeing a good response from our hotel guests and supporters overseas. We just want everyone to come out, have a great time, and support the children of Jamaica,” he said.
